The Good Book (55 page)

28. When all this was done, they made the cables taut from the shore by the help of wooden capstans.

29. This time, instead of using the two materials separately, they assigned to each bridge six cables, two of white flax, four of papyrus.

30. Both cables were of the same size and quality; but the flaxen were the heavier, weighing more than a talent the cubit.

31. When the bridge was complete, tree trunks were sawn into planks to match the width of the bridge,

32. And these were fastened side by side on the tightened cables. Brushwood was arranged on the planks, after which earth was heaped on the brushwood, and trodden into a solid mass.

33. Lastly a bulwark was set up on either side of the causeway, high enough to prevent the sumpter beasts and horses from seeing over it and taking fright at the water.

 

Chapter 60

  1. While the host of Xerxes was approaching the bridge at Abydos the sun, shining in a clear sky, was suddenly eclipsed, causing momentary consternation to Xerxes himself and all his men.

  2. But the one most unnerved was Pythius, who had royally entertained Xerxes on arriving in Lydia;

  3. And he asked him if, of the five sons marching with the army, he might be spared just one to stay at home and guard his old age and wealth.

  4. Angered, Xerxes said, ‘All my kin and people are marching to this war with me, yet you wish to have a son exempted from the duty!

  5. ‘That son forfeits his life as your punishment for asking!' At this he ordered the youth to be killed and cut in two,

  6. One half of the corpse being placed on one side, and the other on the other side of the road along which the army marched towards the Hellespont.

  7. On arriving at Abydos, Xerxes had a throne of white marble set on a hill so that he could overlook the Hellespont, the bridge, the great host of his army and his fleet on the waters, all in one sweeping view from this vantage point.

  8. He ordered a sailing race among the fleet, which the Phoenicians won; and he was delighted with the sight of such a mighty host and armament.

  9. But as he looked at so many ships, and the plains thronging with men as far as the eye could see, he suddenly began to weep.

10. Then Artabanus, his uncle, asked him: ‘Why do you weep, who were rejoicing just now at the sight of such a magnificent host bent on securing kingship of the world for you?'

11. And Xerxes said, ‘There came on me a sudden pity, when I thought of the brevity of men's lives, and considered that of all this host, so numerous as it is, not one will be alive a hundred years from now.'

12. To which Artabanus replied, ‘And yet there are sadder things than that. Short as our time is, there is no man, whether here among this multitude or elsewhere,

13. ‘Who is so happy, as not to have felt the wish – I will not say once, but many a time – that he were dead rather than alive.

14. ‘Calamities fall upon us; sicknesses vex and harass us, and make life weary even though short.

15. ‘So death, through the wretchedness of our life, is a most sweet refuge to our kind.'

16. ‘You speak the truth,' said Xerxes, ‘and so let us turn our thoughts from it, because the truth is sad.

17. ‘And tell me, uncle, whether the sight of this great army and navy here before us pleases you as it does me.'

18.   Artabanus replied, ‘No one could feel otherwise, if he is on the same side as such a host!

19. ‘But I worry about two dangers that are especially difficult to overcome.'

20. ‘Can any dangers withstand an army and a navy so great as these?' asked Xerxes, astonished.

21. ‘Precisely because they are so great in number and extent, these dangers – one can say: these enemies to you – are the greater,' replied Artabanus.

22. ‘They are: the land, and the sea. Nowhere on the margins of the sea is there a harbour big enough for your fleet;

23. ‘If a storm arises, there is no way the whole fleet can find protection together.

24. ‘And the land: by distance, increasing as you go further from home, and by becoming quickly insufficient to provide food and fodder for such a huge army and its animals, it will contrive to defeat you.'

25. Xerxes said, ‘There is good sense in what you say. But do not fear everything alike, or count every risk.

26. ‘If we thought only of difficulties we would never venture anything. Far better to have a stout heart, and accept the possibility of evils, than to step timidly and travel nowhere.

27. ‘Success for the most part attends those who act boldly, not those who weigh everything.

28. ‘You see the height the power of Persia has reached – never would it have grown to this point if they who sat on the throne before me had thought like you, or listened to councillors of such a mind.'

29. And Xerxes sent Artabanus home to Susa, tired of his caution and opposition.

 

Chapter 61

  1. The next day, when the sun rose, Xerxes ordered the first of his host across the bridge.

  2. Sumpter beasts, camp followers, and at their head the choice Ten Thousand of the Persian army, followed by troops of many other nations, crossed over.

  3. On the second day the cavalry crossed, and the regiments of spearmen, and Xerxes himself, and the rest of the army.

  4. At the same time the fleet sailed to the far shore. As soon as Xerxes had reached the European side, he stood to contemplate his army as they crossed under the lash.

  5. And the crossing continued during seven days and seven nights, without rest or pause.

  6. It is said that here, after Xerxes had made the passage, a Hellespontian exclaimed,

  7. ‘Why has the whole race of mankind come to the destruction of Greece? What has Greece done, to deserve such a vengeance?'

  8. For Xerxes had brought one million seven hundred thousand men from many nations of Asia, India, Arabia and Africa, each with its own type of weapon and clothing, and its own skills in war.

  9. In the fleet were one thousand two hundred triremes, and each ship had a company of soldiers alongside the seamen.

10. There were many men of note and courage in the army and navy, and many noble rulers.

11. And there was one woman, Artemisia, who ruled over the Halicarnassians, the men of Cos, of Nisyrus and of Calydna;

12. She brought five triremes to the Persian fleet and they were, next to the Sidonian, the most famous ships in the fleet.

13. She likewise gave to Xerxes sounder counsel than any of his other allies.

14. So Xerxes began his march into Macedonia. Every city he passed added men to his army, and the coastal towns provided yet further seamen to his fleet.

15. Every city, in response to the demand he had sent by heralds before him, had made food and drink ready for him and his forces.

16. No sooner had the heralds brought their message, than in every city the inhabitants made a division of their stores of corn,

17. And proceeded to grind flour of wheat and of barley for many months together.

18. They purchased the best cattle and fattened them; and fed poultry and waterfowl to be ready for the army;

19. While they likewise prepared gold and silver vases and drinking-cups, and everything else needed for the service of the table.

20. These last preparations were made for the king only, and those who sat with him; for the rest of the army plain food was provided.

21. On the arrival of the Persians, a tent ready pitched for the purpose received Xerxes, who took his rest therein, while the soldiers remained under the open sky.

22. When the dinner hour came, great was the toil of those who entertained the army;

23. While the guests ate their fill, and then, after passing the night at the place, took down the royal tent next morning, and packing its contents, carried them all off, leaving nothing behind.

24. At last Xerxes reached Therma, to which he had ordered his fleet,

25. And from there he could see the Thessalian mountains, Olympus and Ossa, both very high.

26. He took a boat to view the mouth of the River Peneus, which collects all the waters of the rivers of Thessaly, a land ringed by its mountains, and discharges them into the sea.

 

Chapter 62

  1. When Xerxes returned to Therma he found waiting for him the heralds he had sent to the cities of Greece, demanding earth and water; and learned which had complied, and which had refused.

  2. Among those who sent earth and water were the Thessalians, Dolopians, Enianians, Perrhaebians,

  3. The Locrians, Magnetians, Malians, Achaeans of Phthiotis, Thebans, and the Boeotians generally, except those of Plataea and Thespiae.

  4. In the cities that had refused to submit there was great alarm and anxiety, for news of the vast host of the Persians had reached everywhere in Greece.

  5. In Athens the citizens debated whether to abandon their city and fly, or to stay and fight.

  6. Among them a citizen of the first rank, Themistocles, nerved them by saying, ‘We are defended by the best circuit of wooden walls of any city;

  7. ‘I mean our fleet.' He said this because he had previously given Athens excellent advice, which was as follows.

  8. The city authorities had accumulated a large sum in the treasury, and were about to share it among the citizens, who would have received ten drachmas apiece,

  9. When Themistocles persuaded them not to distribute the money, but to use it to build two hundred ships to help them in their war against the Eginetans.

10. It was thus the Eginetan war which proved the saving of Greece; for thereby was Athens forced to become a maritime power.

11. Now, with the looming threat of Xerxes, they resolved to build yet more ships, and to equip them well.

12. The Greeks who were loyal to the Grecian cause assembled in one place, and there consulted, and exchanged pledges with each other.

13. They agreed that, before any other step was taken, the feuds and enmities between the different states should first be appeased.

14. There were many such; but one was of more importance than the rest, namely, the war then still continuing between the Athenians and Eginetans.

15. When this business was concluded, the Greeks sent spies into Asia to take note of Xerxes' affairs.

16. At the same time they resolved to send ambassadors to the Argives, and conclude a league with them against the Persians;

17. And likewise they dispatched messengers to the people of Corcyra, and to those of Crete, exhorting them to send help to Greece.

18. Their wish was to unite the entire Greek name in one, and so to bring all to join in the same plan of defence, because the approaching dangers threatened all alike.

19. And they sent also to Gelo, the son of Deinomenes, in Sicily.

20. Now the power and wealth of Gelo, as king of Syracuse, was very great, far greater than that of any other single Grecian state.

21. The spies who went to Sardis before Xerxes set forth to the Hellespont were caught while noting the Persian strength,

22. And were just about to be put to death when Xerxes reprieved them, gave them free access to everything in his army,

23. And then sent them home, saying that he would prefer the Greeks to know his great strength than to be ignorant of it.

24. This was like his decision when, at the Hellespont, some Greek ships carrying corn from the Euxine to the Peloponnese were stopped, and the Persians made to capture them.

25. But Xerxes, on hearing what they carried and wither they were bound, said, ‘We too are going there; let them carry our corn for us.'

26. And the seamen were able to report on the great armament of the Persians when they reached home, instilling fear.

27. Among those who chose not to aid their fellow-Greeks in opposing Xerxes were the Argives.

28. They had received a message from Xerxes when he first planned his invasion, saying that the Persians regarded themselves as springing from Perseus, founder also of Argos, and that they were therefore kin;

29. And that it was wrong for kin to war on each other, or for the Argives to join the Greeks in opposing Xerxes.

30. Having lately lost many citizens in fighting with Sparta, the Argives were only too happy to find an excuse to stand aside from the war;

31. And used a stratagem to deny the call for aid from their fellow-Greeks. This was to ask for equal generalship of the army, which they knew the Spartans, with their two kings, could not accept.

 

Chapter 63

  1. Of greater moment was the embassy to Gelo, who had made Syracuse great and wealthy.

  2. When the Greek envoys reached Syracuse, they said, ‘We have been sent to you by the Lacedaemonians and Athenians, with their respective allies, to ask your help against the barbarian.